I thought, my love, that I should overtake you; If you your constant love will grant to me. a In one of Wilbye's Madrigals mention is made of “ "pretty grace in saying nay." Here we have yea expressed with a prettier grace than any heroine of a modern novel ever gave utterance to. CCCLXIII. Thirsis, thine absence grieves my wounded heart; Ah! woe is me that now I must depart, And my fond hopes must vanish like a dream. But if on earth I may not see thy face, I'll fly to Heav'n to seek thee in that place. THOMAS FORD Was a musician in the suite of Prince Henry, son of James I., and in 1607 published "Music of sundry kinds. "set forth in two books." Never having seen the work I can say no more of it. He is now chiefly known as the composer of the music to the following Madrigals. CCCLXIV. Since first I saw your face, I resolv'd To honour and renown you: If now I be disdain'd, I wish My heart had never known you. What? I that lov'd, and you that lik'd, Shall we begin to wrangle? No, no, no, no, my heart is fast, And cannot disentangle. The sun, whose beams most glorious are, Rejecteth no beholder; And your sweet beauty, past compare, Made my poor eyes the bolder. Where beauty moves, and wit delights, And signs of kindness bind me; There, O there, where'er I go I'll leave my heart behind me. CCCLXV. There is a lady sweet and kind; And yet I love her till I die! JOHN MUNDY Was a composer chiefly of sacred music, but he published one miscellaneous work, entitled "Songs and Psalms com"posed into three, four, and five parts, for the use of all "such as either love or learn music," wherein he is styled, "Bachiler of Music, and one of the Organists of Her "Majesty's Free Chapel of Windsor, A.D. i594." It contains thirty pieces, and is dedicated to "the Right Ho"nourable Robert Devoreux, Earl of Essex and Ewe, "Viscount of Hereford, Lord Ferrer of Chartley, Borcher, " and Lovaine," &c. CCCLXVI. Hey ho! chil go to plough no more, Of golden groats I have good store, To flaunt it with the best. But I do love, and whom, think you? The finest lass that e'er you knew: CCCLXVII. Were I a king, I might command content; Nor words, nor wrongs, nor loves, nor hopes, nor fears. A doubtful choice of three things, one to crave; A kingdom, or a cottage, or a grave. THOMAS TOMKINS Was a pupil of the celebrated William Byrd, and a Church Musician of some notoriety. He published a set of twentyeight songs of three, four, five, and six parts, dedicated to "the Earl of Pembroke." He is therein styled "Organist "of his Majesty's Chapel Royal in Ordinary." He also contributed a Madrigal to the Triumphs of Oriana. find but one specimen in the above set worthy of transcribing. CCCLXVIII. Weep no more, thou sorry boy; Love's pleas'd and anger'd with a toy. Laughs and weeps, and sighs and sings; And thinks not on his future woes: If she chide with angry eye, Sits down and sighs-ah me! I die. Yet again, as soon reviv'd, * Vide No. LXX. I 66 DR. JOHN BULL Was chiefly celebrated as a composer for, and performer on the Organ and Virginals; indeed, says Anthony Wood, "he was so much admired for his dexterous hand, that many thought there was more than man in him;" no doubt alluding to the absurd story of his having, in the course of a few hours, added forty parts to a composition already consisting of that number, which feat induced a foreign organist to exclaim, "that the man who could do "that must either be the devil or Dr. Bull." Being possessed, however, with crotchets, as many musicians are, he went beyond the seas, and died, as some say, at Hamburgh. He was the first Gresham Professor of music, and appointed at the express desire of Queen Elizabeth. I have extracted the following stanza, the music to which is by him, from an old manuscript set of part books with an engraved title page, entitled “Tristitiæ Remedium,” the handywork of one Thomas Myrtell, A.D. 1616. CCCLXIX. Frail man, despise the treasures of this life; * Vide the Book of Jonah, last chapter. |